The State of The Union is Weak: A Call To Action

September 20, 2015

By David Stuckenberg

Chairman, American Leadership and Policy Foundation

I recently had the privilege of attending a Security and Defense summit in South Carolina hosted by the Citadel. The gathering pulled in members and leaders from every branch of military and government. For many, it was a chance to voice their concerns off the record. Sadly, most panels and discussions demonstrated one disturbing and re-occurrent theme – America is losing.

But what does that mean? According to most, our military is the weakest in generations, federal government is bloated and ineffective; we’ve lost the cyber war, we lack leadership from top to bottom, and our economy is dangling while debt continues to soar.

On the Drone Security Panel, I presented the American Leadership & Policy Foundation’s (ALPF’s) position on drones and contended with lobbyists and aerospace leaders about the dangers of putting profit above safety. America must take the threats drones pose seriously.

ALPF also presented key leaders with drafts of the recently completed study on strategic risks to our power grid and nuclear reactors posed by Electromagnetic Pulse and Space Weather. Leaders including Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Rose E. Gottemoeller, were shocked by our disturbing findings and eager to receive the groundbreaking information.

Collectively, attendants lamented the culture of our government that rewards those who “tow the line” and punishes those who think critically about solving our nation’s problems.

One panel expressed a desperate need to cultivate bold, intellectually honest, critical thinkers and admonished, “We are going the way of Rome” due to a failure to adapt to a broad range of modern threats.

If any reasonable person were asked to write the President’s State of The Union address after listening to these candid assessments, they would conclude: “America, the State of The Union is Weak.”

If any reasonable person were asked to write the President’s State of The Union address after listening to these candid assessments, they would conclude: “America, the State of The Union is Weak.”

What can we do?

1. Keep hope: hope is not about candidate or campaign cliche, it’s about keeping faith in democratic system that can right itself with the correct kind of care. Fatalism WILL destroy America. We must recognize our Nation’s capacity to rebound and rally. You and I are key to that ability to rally.

2. Get Understanding: If you don’t understand the issues our nation faces, you can’t help arrive at a sound solution. Guess what? You have to be part of that solution – this is how our Democracy functions. We the people… You and I must understand what we need our government to do, then demand it does it.

3. Activate your citizenship: There are millions of citizens too frustrated to vote or get involved in policy making – so many just live here. If the citizens of Rome could tell us one thing today, they would say, “America, unify against corruption and use the power of the mob to keep things in check.” You and I must get to work now. We must make our voices heard. Vote, write, advocate, and challenge the status quo. We are loosing the country. It’s time to activate.

America can rebound, but only if we keep faith in her and act to keep her alive. Will you water the tree of liberty or stand by and watch it whither?

America can rebound, but only if we keep faith in her and act to keep her alive. Will you water the tree of liberty or stand by and watch it whither?

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